William c



I (No Model.)

W. C. GOSS. FIRE PROTECTING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS.

UNITED STATES 'ATENT FFICE.

IVILLI'AM C. GOSS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDIVIN Ii. HILL, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-PROTECTING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,818, dated December 22,1891.

Application filed August 2,1891. Serial No. 401,668. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. GOSS, of Lynn,county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fire-Protecting Apparatus for Buildings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, liket letters on the drawings representing like par s.

IO In past years extended conflagrations have taken place because of the intense heat radiating from burning buildings upon other buildings at a distance, and especially at the opposite sides of a street or square, where the heat was so intense that firemen could not get into the street to get water upon the opposite buildings.

This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus whereby upon the occurrence of a fire in the vicinity of a building, the buildings adjacent to the fire may be shielded and protected from being ignited by heat due to radiation or sparks.

To accomplish my invention I have ar- 2 5 ranged upon or near the top of the building a water-supply tank or pipe having overflows, which may be made to discharge water upon a canvas depending from it and covering more or less the sides or other portions of 0 the building. In this present instance of myinvention I have shown the overflow as from the main pipe into a discharge pipe or trough and thence upon a canvas. I have also provided suitable means for flooding the 5 roof of a building to prevent it taking fire from any sparks which may chance to drop thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents two buildings,one of which is provided with my fire- 0 protecting apparatus, a portion of the apparatus at the front of the building being broken away; and Fig. 2 is a section in the line a, Fig. 1.

At or near the top of a building A, of any 5 usual shape, material, or construction, Ihave arranged a water-supply tank or pipe B, the said pipe or tank being preferably in communication, by a suitable stand-pipe B, with some street system or main of water, the standpipe having a suitable valve 13*. The pipe or tank 13 is arranged, as represented, about the top of the building, and outside of the said tank I have shown a distributing-pipe C, fed by a series of feeders c, the said distributingpipe being provided with a discharge-opening, 5 5

as 2. (See Fig. 2.

Around the top ofv the building 1 have erected a rail ora series of standards D, sustaining a suitable supporting-bar E, having suitable hooks, as 3, upon which is hung or sus- 6o 7 pended a strong canvas F, the said canvas preferably having connected with it a suitable rope G, extended through suitable eyes 4, so that by the rope the canvas may be lowered or raised. At its lower edge the canvas may, if desired, and preferably will be, provided with fastening devices, whereby the canvas may be secured against flapping in the wind, and so as to keep it at the proper distance from the building. These fastening devices Z), composed of rods or chains, may be connected to suitable spikes or fastenings 73, secured to the curl), or they maybe driven into the ground.

The water may be let into the distrilouting- 75 pipe 0 whenever desired, and it will be discharged therefrom upon and run over and soak the canvas or shield F more or less, sufficiently, however, to protect the building from burning.

The quantity of water put upon the canvas or fire-shield may be regulated as desired, and of course by the use of canvas or shield containing asbestus the fire-proof or fire-resistant qualities would be greatly increased. 8 5

At the top of the roof I have shown atank or pipe D, from which water forced from the main or otherwise may be discharged upon the roof of the building through suitable holes d.

I have shown the pipes or tanks B D as connected by a branch d.

I claim v 1. A. water-supply pipe or tank B, mounted at or near the top of the,building,a discharge pipe or trough for water in communication therewith, and a series of canvas or shield supports, combined with a canvas or shield suspended to cover a building and located to receive upon it and be saturated by the water or other fluid used in the discharge-pipe, substantially as described.

2. A Water-supply pipe ortank B, mounted end of the shield in place, substantially as IO at or near the top of the building, a discharge described.

pipe or trough for Water in communication In testimony whereof I have signed my therewith,andaseries of canvas or shield supname to this specification in the presence of ports, combined With a canvas or shield sustwo subscribing witnesses.

pended to cover a building and located to XVILLIAM C. GOSS. receive upon it and be saturated by the Water Witnesses: or other fluid used in the discharge-pipe, and GEO. W. GREGORY,

with fastening devices to secure the lower FRANCIS M. NOBLE. 

